Basic information regarding the printing on acrylic using OrcoSperse™ aqueous pigment dispersions is shown below.  There are many parameters and variables involved with pigment printing–pigment printing concerns itself with the following basic factors:

Pigments

OrcoSperse™ are aqueous pigments nonionically or anionically dispersed. These may or may not be resin bonded.

Low-Crock

This is a resinous material, usually acrylic or styrene butadiene latex which, in some cases, is compounded with a melamine formaldehyde resin to improve cross-linking and thus improving washfastness.

Clear Concentrate

This is usually a synthetic polymer dispersed in an emulsion or colloid which swells and increases in viscosity when dispersed in water usually with high shear mixers like a Barenco or a Hill homogenizer.

 

Pigment Printing Procedure:

1. Prepare typical print paste(100 parts total) with the following:
   • 1-8         parts   OrcoSperse™ pigment concentrate
   • 1.5-2.5   parts   Orco Clear Conc SP-2™
   • 5-10       parts   Orco Low-Crock T-550™
   • X            parts   Water

 

2. Charge tank as follows in order listed:
   • X                parts   Cold Water
   • 1.5-2.5        parts Orco Clear Conc SP-2™

 

3. Run a high-speed mixer 10-12 minutes until smooth.
4. Add 5-10 parts Orco Low-Crock T-550™.
5. Add desired amount of OrcoSperse™ Pigment print paste prepared above and continue mixing for 4-8 minutes until dispersion is complete.
6. Check viscosity. If a higher viscosity is desired, add additional Orco Clear Conc SP-2™ with mixing for 5-7 minutes.
7. Print material on either a flat-bed screen or rotary screen.
8. Cure at a minimum of 275-300°F(135-150°C) for 60-90 seconds.

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